I've been dropped the 6 or so times I've attempted Palace.... only in the first 10 laps I might add. 
My legs felt a bit sluggish on the commute but was determined to give it a go.
There's a 100 limit on the number of riders so I took my trainers with me for a track session just in case I couldn't get on the start sheet.
No womens race so the 3/4 had a big field.
Had a warm up lap didn't feel too bad. Second warm up lap went a bit harder and still felt ok.
I lined up with Carl and Serge also in the field. Steve B in e12s
We get off and I find myself in a good position possibly top 15 towards the hairpin only having to break for another rider and find a different line.
I fall back a few places.
The first few laps are explosive. We've dropped what seems like 5 or so of the weaker riders already. A few more laps pass and the pace is still super high (for me).
I'm getting used to course and starting to settle down to a rhythm.
Punching out of the hairpin in the right gear and getting a good line, going up the hill at full pelt trying not to slip any places.
I'm working my way up the bunch here and there.
25 or minutes in there's a shout ahead and someone has broken a couple of spokes what appeared to be a touch of wheels up the climb.
Unfortunately for me the guy that pulls out starts to move onto my line.
I nearly rear end him and have to break hard then crank it up again whilst going up hill.
Thankfully I'm still in the bunch as we head towards the hairpin.
The effort though has sent me into the red again and before I know it we're approaching the bottom of the hill again for some more pain.
We reach the start after a lap and get redirected straight down the hill missing the hair pin. The leaders which I think included Carl go round the hairpin so the bunch wait for them to get back on.
This takes a half a lap then all hell breaks loose for the next five or so I'm fighting for my life. Get a shout from Serge to keep working.
I recover again and start moving up.
When I'm not wheezing I'm loving it and the more the race goes on, the more confident I am about finishing in the bunch.
It gets a bit disorientating in the remaining laps going past the start. I think I can hear the bell and then someone shouts "6 left".
Serge who was looking very strong at some point to my surprise pulls out and is now cheering me on.
Carl has been at the sharp end of the whole race goes off the front but mistimes the sprint finish two laps too early and pulls out too.
The remaining laps I'm just holding on and finding myself increasingly at the back of the diminishing bunch.
The bell rings and the last lap is frantic we come up the hill the final time but I've got nothing left.
I finish at the back of the bunch overtaking anyone who has given up.
Woke up this morning thinking I should have done better in the final lap.
Still, signs are encouraging so I think I'll be back for some more.
